MilCom Founders Podcast — Episode 42: From K-9 Handler to Capturing Stories That Matter with Michael Parks

Join host Rod Loges and guest Michael Parks as he shares his journey from Air Force K-9 handler and retired Supervisory Federal Air Marshal to founder of Daystar Photography, a veteran-owned photography, videography, and drone services company serving clients nationwide.

In this episode:

• How growing up with an active duty Army father gave Michael the foundation to pursue military service
• His path from Air Force K-9 handler to Secret Service bomb dog detail to Federal Air Marshal
• The moment on a glass-bottom boat in Destin, Florida that sparked his love of photography
• How his mom saw the spark before he did and gave him his first camera for Christmas
• Why he treats every client like family instead of a transaction, a lesson he learned from his working dogs
• The story of Captain Johns, who refused to leave Michael's side during an explosive detection alert in Kuwait
• How he founded Vet Fest, a free festival celebrating veterans that has grown from 300 attendees to 550 and is expanding to multiple cities
• His advice on balancing the entrepreneurial drive with personal time and family

Key takeaways:

• The loyalty and focus of a working dog taught Michael how to serve clients: show up fully, earn trust, and give everything to the relationship
• Don't treat people as transactions. Treat them as family
• God places people in your life to support you when it matters most, whether it's a captain in a war zone or a mom who notices what lights you up
• The military teaches pride and excellence, but entrepreneurs also need to learn when to step away and give themselves grace
• Learn to have a work-life balance. The business isn't going anywhere, but you can never get back the time you've been given

Guest: Michael Parks, Owner and CEO of Daystar Photography LLC, US Air Force veteran (12+ years, K-9 Handler/Security Forces), retired Supervisory Federal Air Marshal (22 years, Department of Homeland Security)

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professionalphotopgraher-recruiter-law-enforcement-advisor/
• Website: www.daystarphoto.com

Michael Parks is the Owner and CEO of Daystar Photography LLC, a Veteran-Owned professional photography, videography, and drone services company serving Atlanta, Tampa, and Orlando. Through Daystar Photography, Michael captures powerful visual stories that spotlight leadership, service, and impact. He is the official photographer for Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) and proudly serves as a Brand Ambassador for IVMF's Ambassador program. 

Throughout his career, Michael has traveled nationwide documenting major veteran and corporate events, working with nationally recognized organizations including Wounded Warrior Project, Walmart, Fiserv, USAA, JPMorgan Chase, and Amazon. 

Michael is also a retired Supervisory Federal Air Marshal with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS), serving honorably from January 2002 to November 2023. Over his 22-year career, he held numerous leadership and operational roles, including Federal Air Marshal, Primary Watch Officer, FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) Task Force Supervisor, Program Manager and International Planner for the Middle East & Africa, and ultimately retiring as a Supervisory Federal Air Marshal. His service took him to more than 50 countries and over 350 destinations worldwide, supporting national security and international operations. 

In addition to his primary duties, Michael was entrusted with several critical collateral roles, including Law Enforcement Chaplain, Certified Peer & Grief Counselor, EEO Counselor & Investigator, Counter-UAS/Drone Supervisor, and Lead Recruiter & Hiring Specialist. Prior to his federal service, Michael served over 12 years in the United States Air Force, where he built deep expertise as a K-9 Handler (Explosive & Narcotics) and Program Manager. His Air Force career included progressive leadership roles as Kennel Master, Trainer, and Security Forces K-9 Handler. He is also the founder of Vet Fest, a growing annual festival celebrating veterans and connecting them with resources across the country.

The MilCom Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business owners. Each episode brings practical insights and lessons learned from veteran entrepreneurs.

Sponsored by One Degree Financial www.onedegreefinancial.com

Want to support veteran entrepreneurs? Donate to the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund: https://bold.org/funds/dick-loges-veteran-entrepreneur-fund/